Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?

About the Book

This book explores the character and contours of the Asian Space Powers. At present, Asian states like China, Japan and India are found investing in space technologies with analogous social and scientific and probably with divergent military intents. Other Asian states like Israel, South Korea and Malaysia are also making investments in the space arena. States like Iran and North Korea are faulted for using space launches as a demonstrative tool to achieve strategic objectives. This work examines this entire maze of activities to unearth where these states are making these investments to accomplish their state-specific goal or are they also trying to surpass each other by engaging in competition. Explaining why and how these states are making investments towards achieving their socio-economic and strategic mandate this book infers that the possibility of Asian Space Race exists but is presently fairly diminutive.

Contents

Part I Introduction

Structure of the Book

Concept of Asia and Relevance of Space Technologies
What Is Asia?
Asian Context
Political Patronage for Technology Development
Scientific and Technological Pragmatism
Growth of Technology in Asia
Relevance of Space Technologies for Asia
The Space Era and Asia
Space Power
Key Asian Space Players
References

Part II Asian Space Narratives

West Asia’s Investments in Space Technologies
Iran
Israel
Other States
References